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Athlete Achievement Highlights Personal Excellence Awards

8 October 2015

Many of our great performers on the field also excel off the field, balancing study and work with demanding physical schedules. The Personal Excellence Award, which will be presented at the WAIS Annual Dinner, recognises athlete's who have excelled in their academic and professional pursuits, balancing these alongside their sporting commitments.

The prize, which has previously gone by the title of the
WAIS Athlete Career and Education Award, is presented for academic and professional accomplishments
within an athlete’s career path, whilst maintaining focus and commitment to
their chosen sport. It winner will be announced at this year’s WAIS Annual
Dinner on Saturday October 17.

Gemma Beadsworth (Water Polo)

As a dual Olympic
medallist at 24, WAIS athlete Gemma Beadsworth stepped away from international
sport following the London Olympics to forge a professional career with Peet
Limited, Australia’s largest specialist residential land developer.

Whilst her
career flourished, Gemma continued playing national level water polo with the
Fremantle Marlins, helping her club side to a championship in 2014. Beadsworth
returned to the national team fold this year, with an appearance at the World
Championships in Russia, whilst she has also advanced her career to now hold
the position of Assistant Development Manager with Peet. She continues to work
full-time, whilst maintaining a full training load and stands a significant
chance of representing Australia at a third Olympic campaign next year in Rio.

Brant Garvey (Para-Triathlon)

When Para-Triathlon
was announced as a new Paralympic event for the 2016 Rio Games, Brant Garvey identified
the goal of being one of the first athletes to represent Australia at
Paralympic level.

Brant’s support was dented when he was made redundant from
his part-time IT role, but rather than dwell on the news, Brant took it as an
opportunity to dedicate more time to training, whilst setting up his own
"noXcuses” brand which has seen him create a meaningful partnership with HBF
that has allowed him to pursue his dream of gaining Paralympic selection. Brant
regularly volunteers his time at speaking engagements and through other
community activities – demonstrating champion behaviour both in and out of
sport.

Brad Ness (Wheelchair Basketball)

As the captain of
the current world champion Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team, Brad
Ness is undeniably a busy man.

Not only is he on track to compete at a fifth
Paralympic Games campaign, Brad – along with his wife Giovanna – recently
opened a successful Pizza Restaurant (Manga Pizza) in Fremantle, whilst he is
also an ambassador and driving influence behind the Red Dust Heelers group,
that uses sport as a tool to promote inclusion across all areas of life, with a
focus on disability and indigenous communities, particularly in regional areas.
Brad’s champion qualities as an athlete speak for itself, but his willingness
to support WAIS values has also seen him open his business to other WAIS
sporting programs, most notably a culture and leadership workshop with the
predominantly teenage members of the WAIS men’s hockey program.

Sutherlan Scudds (Fencing)

For most people,
finishing a law degree would stand alone as an incredible achievement.

That
Sutherlan Scudds was able to meet this challenge concurrent with receiving
treatment for a brain tumour pays testament to his remarkable resolve.
Sutherlan received an academic award for completing his final unit whilst
undergoing radiation treatment. More recently, Sutherlan has returned to
fencing, winning a national title last June, set against a burgeoning
professional career that has seen him complete his article clerkship and gain
admittance to the legal profession where he has represented clients in court
covering his own files. Sutherlan’s passion for fencing has seen him continue
to push for Olympic selection, whilst dedicating service to coaching and acting
as a mentor to other fencers at state and national level. The resilience and
commitment Sutherlan has shown in both his professional and sporting pursuits,
serve as inspiration to all athletes and staff at WAIS.